Aquaculture farms on the fringes of the Taklimakan Desert are seeing a bumper harvest. From grey mullet and grouper to salmon, Australian redclaw crayfish and Pacific white shrimp, a variety of aquatic species are thriving in the desert. By carefully adjusting the mineral levels and ionic balance of local saline-alkali water, researchers engineered the ideal conditions for marine life to flourish. In this arid landscape, aquaculture is opening up new possibilities for seafood production.